1. I can hardly believe how fast my baby is growing! Tristan eats 4-5 oz of formula at every meal. If I’m breastfeeding, I don’t need to measure how much Tristan eats — I just feed Tristan on demand.

2. Baby can figure out where a sound is coming from! When Tristan hears something that interests Tristan, Tristan turns Tristan’s head and locates the source of the sound with Tristan’s eyes.

3. My baby seems a little constipated — Tristan isn’t pooping every day, and when Tristan does, it seems hard. I’m trying not to worry too much, and I’ve been moving Tristan’s legs in a bicycle motion after meals to help get his digestive system moving.

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4. I’ve set up the baby monitor, and it’s my new best friend! I can get stuff done on the other side of the house while baby is napping.

5. I really don’t feel like getting it on right now! I’ve never been so uninterested in sex. I know that breastfeeding can affect my sex drive, and my partner and I talked about how I’m feeling and how we can work together to stay connected even when I’m not feeling inspired.

6. My lactation consultant thinks that dairy I eat might affect baby, so I’ve cut milk out of my diet temporarily to see if it helps constipation or eczema. I’ll miss eating cheese, but it’s totally worth it if it helps my baby’s health.

7. I think my partner and I are ready for our first real date night, and we can hardly wait! We’ve hired a babysitter, and we’re going to go out for a short dinner in the early evening. We’re prepared to come home early if baby gets fussy.

1. My baby has had Tristan’s two-month checkup, which included a lot more vaccinations! Baby was really brave for all the shots. The two-month vaccination series includes the first dose of rotavirus, the first dose of DTaP, the first dose of Hib, the first dose of PCV13, and the first dose of IPV.

2. The simplest things are exciting when I’m introducing them to baby for the first time! I’m giving Tristan a chance to experience different textures and colors, and it’s wonderful to see Tristan discover them. I put different fabrics on the floor for Tristan to touch during tummy time so Tristan can explore Tristan’s sense of touch.

3. My baby is starting to get better head control. I still support Tristan’s head when I lift Tristan, but it doesn’t feel like picking up a bobble head toy anymore.

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4. I’m getting plenty of opportunity to use those cute bibs I got at my baby shower! Baby drools a lot, so I keep a bib on Tristan all the time.

5. Is it really time for me to go back to work already? I decided to start back on a Wednesday to give myself a short first week back. This will help me ease back into work.

6. I’m going to spend some quality time with baby! — I signed up for a Mommy and Me class like a yoga class or a postpartum exercise class.

1. My baby’s crib looks pretty sparse and bare right now — no blankets or pillows! I put baby in a sleep sack to keep Tristan warm at night. Tristan looks so adorable snuggled up inside!

2. My baby seems to be right on track developmentally: Tristan cries to tell me how Tristan feels, and Tristan likes to look at black-and-white patterns with strong contrast. Tristan also grabs my finger when I touch Tristan’s palm, which is the sweetest reflex ever!

3. I’m in the “fourth trimester,” and I still look pretty pregnant! I know it will take a while for my belly to go back to normal, so right now I’m wearing loose, comfortable clothes, like the maternity pants I wore in the first trimester.

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4. I really hope my newborn will stay healthy, but if Tristan catches a cold or a virus, I’m prepared. I’ve got my baby’s safety kit ready with a digital thermometer, a night light and a nasal aspirator.

5. Breastfeeding is hard work, but pumping is even harder! If I plan to pump, I’ve got a good electric or manual pump. An electric pump is essential if I need to pump full-time; a manual is fine if I’ll only need to pump occasionally.

1. It’s never too early for tummy time! I’ve started laying my baby on Tristan’s belly for a few minutes every day to help baby build Tristan’s neck and back muscles. Tristan doesn’t like it much, so I pick Tristan back up after a short “exercise” time.

2. I’ve been feeling a little down and stressed. It may just be the “baby blues,” but I know it’s essential for me to pay attention to my mental health right now. I’ve scheduled an appointment to talk with my doctor about my concerns and my risk for postpartum depression.

3. Pacifiers: are they a great soothing tool or an unnecessary crutch? My partner and I have talked with each other and with our lactation consultant about pacifiers, and we’ve decided how we feel about them and whether we want to offer one to baby.

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4. My baby knows me! Tristan turns Tristan’s head toward my voice and studies my face while I’m talking. Gazing into Tristan’s eyes while Tristan looks back at me is the most wonderful feeling in the world!

5. Ouch. If I had an episiotomy or tear, I’m adding a few drops of tea tree oil in my bath to help me heal faster.

6. I’m getting my energy back! If I had an uncomplicated vaginal birth, I might be ready to start light exercise with a short walk around the block. I know to pay attention to my body and not overdo it!

7. Baby is sleeping most of the day, but only for a few hours at a time. I’m doing my best to sleep whenever baby does so I can get some rest during the day. We probably won’t be sleeping through the night for a while!

1. My baby got Tristan’s first vaccination — a dose of Hepatitis B that’s given at birth. Shots are scary, but my newborn getting sick would be even scarier! I also went ahead and scheduled her (name}’s first checkup with our pediatrician.

2. Who knew poop would ever be so interesting? I’m counting my baby’s diapers to make sure Tristan has at least 6 wet ones and 3 dirty ones every 24 hours.

3. I’m even hungrier now than I was when I was pregnant! Breastfeeding takes a lot of out of me — literally. I need 300-500 extra calories if I’m breastfeeding, so I’m eating at least 2,000 calories every day.

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4. The big day is finally here — we’re ready to bring baby home! I can’t wait to start using all the adorable baby stuff in our nursery! I washed all the baby clothes and bedding with a hypoallergenic detergent that’s designed not to irritate baby’s sensitive skin.

5. I thought disposable underwear sounded gross, but this hospital underwear is actually pretty practical. I’ve bought some disposable underwear of my own and some extra-long pads to protect me during postpartum bleeding.

6. My belly is pretty flabby still, but I know that’s normal! I bought a postpartum support belt or wrap to support my belly as I’m healing. If I had a C-section, I’ve also bought some scar healing cream with vitamin E.

7. If I plan to bottle feed, then I’ve stocked up on the right equipment: small 4 oz bottles and stage 1 nipples. I’ve also got a bottle brush to keep my bottles clean.